ERC open door for national team to train at their facilities

SANDAKAN: The door is open for the national rugby team to use the facilities at the Eagles Rugby Club (ERC) – for free.

ERC vice-president Tan Kah Hock said the facilities at the club, which was built with an estimated cost of RM16mil, would be perfect for the national team to train ahead of the three-nation Asian Rugby Championship from May 18-June 29.

Malaysia will be involved in a series of home-and-away matches against Hong Kong and South Korea.

“This is the best place to train. Even the Spain national team held their training camp here last year,” said Kah Hock. “We have conveyed this to the Malaysia Rugby Union (MRU) and they are quite keen to train here. “It’ll be cost-effective too.

“They need to get out of their comfort zone in Klang Valley. There are a lot of distraction there, staying in a camp here can motivate and unite the team.”

The ERC comprise dormitories, a high performance fitness centre with complete training equipment and also two rugby pitches.

ERC’s gymnasium also comes with a cardio room, circuit training equipment, weight training stations and stretching areas.

Kah Hock, who is also the Sabah Sports Board chairman, said the nation’s first rugby-specific stadium construction in Kota Kinabalu has been going on well.

“I just visited the construction site recently, all the pillars are up and I hope the construction will finish by end of next year,” he added.